Critical Writing Index

Prying Eyes: Trevor Paglen makes art out of government secrets

by Jonah Weiner

The New Yorker, Oct 22, 2012, pp. 54-61

Journalist Jonah Weiner interviews artist Trevor Paglen during a process mission in the Nevada desert. Paglen discusses his creative process while revealing conspiracies and secrets that the US government may be concealing. His work extends beyond mass surveillance and secrecy exposure into a confounding and unsettling presentation of our satellite, drone, and cable ridden world. Paglen elaborates on his opinion of artists who do not take art's social purpose seriously.

ITEM 2012.119 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Untitled (Reaper Drone)Trevor Paglen

I Could Tell You but Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by MeTrevor Paglen

The Last PicturesTrevor Paglen